Thursday, May 31, 2007
Mayor calls for unity amid election protest
MAYOR-ELECT Lakambini “Neneth” Reluya, who won the hotly contested mayoral race in San Fernando town by the slimmest margin, called on the warring political personalities to unite for the town’s progress.
Reluya made the unity appeal after she formally took her oath of office before Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, 1st district) at his University of the Visayas office yesterday afternoon.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
“I believe that there is such a thing as unity in diversity. Our common objective for the town’s development and progress could unite as all,” she added.
Reluya of Alayon party spoiled the mayoral bid of her closest rival, Renee Canoy of One Cebu, by merely 40 votes.
Renee is the wife of incumbent and last-term Mayor Antonio Canoy, who dominated San Fernando’s political scene for nine straight years.
While Renee lost in the mayoral contest, Antonio, who opted to be his wife’s running mate, won the vice mayoral race.
The 40-year-old Reluya, popularly known as Neneth, was optimistic to get along with Antonio even if the latter is in the opposite political camp.
“It would not hinder my movement even if he would not cooperate,” said Reluya of Antonio.
Reluya vowed to initiate a reconciliation with the newly elected members of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB), which is dominated by Antonio’s political allies.
“I will reach out to them,” she added.
Among Reluya’s priorities are poverty alleviation, economic development, promotion of agricultural products, improvement of the town’s local market and tourism.
Her victory was considered as the first in the town’s elections history because she was just a first term or neophyte town councilor when she made the big leap of challenging the leadership of the Canoys.
Reluya explained, though, that political blood runs in her veins as her great-grandfather, Adriano Generalao was a local cabeza during the Spanish regime.
Her aunt, Loreta Generans, was also a former barangay captain of Panadtaran.
Present during her simple oath-taking rite before Gullas were her parents, her husband Ricardo and their three children, namely Richie, 14, Shanylle, 13, and Travis, 3. (GC)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. ( May 31, 2007 issue)
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